I was talking with my wife and some friends about regrets. As I hone my craft as an author, I wish I could go back and rewrite all my earlier stuff. If I did though, a few years later I would want to do it again, and so on. The only reason you regret earlier writing, or earlier actions in your life, is if you get better or wiser. If you never advance, you look back on earlier work and decisions and smile – yeah, I would do it that way all over again. That is why I decided that regret is actually a good thing. You only have regrets if you have shown improvement. I know that is a bit warped, because people always say, “live life without regrets,” but the more I look at it the more it seems correct.
If you could live your life again, what would you do differently? I hate to admit it, but I don’t think I could work so hard again. Getting three degrees in four years while working full-time in the military with a family of four would be hard to do again. Could I go through an abusive childhood again? Could I go through “paying my dues” at one job after another, working long hours for petty tyrant bosses and keeping my head down and my mouth shut to get ahead? I don’t know. Most of my life got me to where I am today. I am not sure I would ever have the patience or drive to do it again. Maybe that would be good. Just smell the roses more, be chill, be happy. It makes you wonder, would you be the same person if you made other choices? Would you turn out worse or better?
In the meantime, unless you get to do some time travel, enjoy your regrets. It means you have learned from your own past.
Michael Bradley - Time Traveler 